Allimey, a thirteen-year-old girl, lived with her father on a lake. Allimey was a shy girl, with a well-kept secret. The night before the first day of school, Allimey’s father said to her,

    “I know I’ve told you this many times, but please remember this proverb. Getting the most out of what you have and broadening your horizons are the only two things needed for happiness.”

    Sammy and Allimey had been friends since the third grade, now the two were in eighth.

    “Allimey, we are going to miss school because of you! Sam shouted, as she ran to and fro, gathering all of Allimey’s things, and placing them into her book bag.

    “Oh, thanks Sam, but you could have woken me up earlier.” Allimey sighed, in relief.

    “Come on!” Sam struggled to lift Allimey’s heavy book bag, to hand it to her. The two walked out, and the bus was waiting for them.

    Allimey stuck her head up, put her headphones on. As the girls stepped onto the bus, a shy boy, Tasuke, whom they knew from earlier years of school, said to them shyly,

    “Hello, welcome back to school.” The two nodded, and each said,

    “You too, Tasuke.”

After finding a seat, Sam whispered to Allimey,

    “I know you might need to wear those headphones, Al, but they make you look like you are not paying attention to me.” Allimey showed the cord to her headphones.

    “See? They aren’t even plugged in; you know I listen, Sam, even if I don’t want to.

    The girls chatted about what would have seemed like craziness to any others. Allimey possessed a sense nobody else did. This sense is called clairaudience. Allimey could hear things irregularly well, through some supernatural means. Even she did not know how it happened, it was always there, her whole life.

    “This seat is creepily quiet, Allimey. I’m sure it’d be okay to take your headphones off.” Sam suggested.

    “You know I don’t want to do that. All these people, I don’t care to hear them all at once.” Just then, the bus pulled into their school.

    “So, the first day of school, ready, Allimey? Sam asked, while she jotted something down into her journal. They used maps on the walls of the school to find their way to the main office, where they received their schedules.

    “Quick, let me look and see what we have together,” Allimey blurted out, quickly. She took Sam’s schedule. “Dang, we only have one class together!” Sam quickly took the schedules back.

    “No, see? We have lunch together, too.” So, off to their lockers they went. Each said,

    “See you soon, good luck!” In a chorus that even seemed rehearsed.

    Allimey arrived at locker, and had a time opening it for time. She repeated in her head,

    “One, thirty-three, seven.”

    Allimey rushed to her first class, and her teacher said quickly,

    “It’s the first day, I know, but you need to take the headphones off. I won’t hesitate to take them if the bell rings.” Allimey realized that she would not be able to concentrate, with them on, or not. She took the headphones off.

    The bell rang, and all the students were all in their seats, as they wanted to make a first impression on the teacher. Allimey almost instantly zoned out, as she never cared about school, as long as she got an average grade, or better. Class rolled by quickly, and everyone left for their lockers. Everyone was pushing through the halls, which angered Allimey a bit, but what annoyed her most was the fact that she had to listen to kids whine about it.

    Allimey reached her locker, and glanced down as the approached, she saw a small mirror. While thinking that it belonged to someone else, greediness took the best of her. She picked the mirror and placed on her locker, to look through it. Allimey was a bit tall, about five-foot and eight inches. Her hair was a dark brown, with a few streaks of red, and it hung down straight. She always wore her headphones, to drown out most loud noises, as she couldn’t really take a loud noise with her clairaudience. She never liked attention, so she wore jeans and dark T-shirts. Later in the day, school ended. Allimey and Sam said goodbye, as Sam did not usually take the bus. Allimey reached her quiet seat, to sit, and wait.

    “So, why me? Am I the only one? How do I do it? Why do I do it?” I thought, as my bus moved slowly, to every stop, while I stared blankly into the sky outside. I know I am only thirteen, but I learned many things in my life. But there was one I did not understand until now.

    “Getting the most out of what you have and broadening your horizons are the only two things needed for happiness.”

    The next morning, Allimey realized, “Getting the most out of what you have…this must mean I have to accept this…thing for what it is. A gift.” Of course, she meant her clairaudience. Allimey said to herself hesitantly, “Broadening my horizons? Meeting new people and trying new things. That has to be it. But, why?”

    Allimey knew only a few people, but she wasn’t really great friends with anybody except Sam. She walked to the bus stop, and pondered,

    “Who are these new people?” Allimey knew how people felt when they were around her. They would be uncomfortable, and somewhat startled by Allimey’s appearance. Again, the bus rolled to Allimey’s house. She said to herself, in anguish, “Broadening my horizons…” Allimey stepped onto the bus. She sat down to Tasuke, the kid from the day before. She said, clearer than usual, trying not to intimidate,

    “Hey, why don’t we talk anymore? Sam and I are leaving for the mall after school today, I need to buy new clothes for the year, and I’m sure you must need something from the mall, I’ll pay at the food court.” Tasuke thought for a few seconds, and responded,

    “Sure, I would love to go, A nice way to kick off the new school year.” Allimey was hoping he would have said more, but they were mostly quiet, and noticeably embarrassed.

    School was a bit exciting for Allimey that day. In the hall, she heard a girl say something about Nedragelle, her favorite band; she loved the soft vocals, and soothing work of their guitarist. She listened closer, and found that the band was playing at a nearby park at 6 o’clock. At the end of school, Allimey told Sam the good news. Sam flipped out, and exclaimed,

    “We have to be quick at the mall, I am not missing this!”

    Sam took the bus today, with Allimey. They sat down next to Tasuke, to ask him if he was still going to the mall.

    “Yeah, I’m still going. Why? Did the plans change?” asked Tasuke, curiously.

    “Well, the mall plans aren’t changing, exactly.” Allimey replied, “But, I heard Nedragelle is playing in the park nearby, at 6 o’clock! We don’t have tickets yet, but I’ll get them while you and Sam wait at the mall. You still in?” Tasuke exclaimed,

    “Yes! I love Nedragelle! I’m still in!”

    Sam, who was writing in her journal, notice the bus had arrived at Allimey’s.

    “Okay, you two get to the mall, Sam, Tasuke. I’ll be there in a short while.” The other two nodded.

    Later, as Allimey rode into the mall on a bike, the other two were waiting patiently in the food court. She ran inside, in the food court, just as planned.

    “Four-sixteen, darn it!” Tasuke burst out.

    “Ha! I guessed closest! Sam laughed. Allimey was annoyed at them.

    “You two bet on my arrival?” she laughed.

    “No matter. So, where to, first?” asked Sam.

    “I want to pick up one of Nedragelle’s albums.” Allimey replied.

    “Well, I would like to stop by the skateboarding shop, pick up a new deck.” Tasuke added.

    “Okay, Tasuke. Al and I will head to Frequencies, the music shop, just over there.” She pointed. “Meet us there when you are ready.”

    The girls headed to Frequencies, the music store. It was very diverse; it had just about every band imaginable, in separate areas, sorted by different genres of music. They found Nedragelle, but Allimey could not decide between two of their albums.

    “Sam, what’s your opinion on these two albums?” Allimey asked.

    “You never try anything new, do you?” Sam took an album and put it back. Allimey told Sam she was right. Sam moved off to some clothes on a back wall. She shrieked, and called Allimey over.

    “Al, Look at this shirt! I’m so about to buy it!” Allimey turned, to find Sam holding a shirt that said Nedragelle on the front.

    “What’s so special about it?” the girls turned, to find Tasuke shaking his head.

    “It’s only a T-shirt with the name of the band, for five dollars more.” Allimey swiped the shirt from Sam. She quickly called out,

    “Dibs! It is so mine for the concert!” Sam was furious.

    “That is not fair!” Ugh, whatever. You pick up the deck you wanted, Tasuke? Well, let’s see it.” Tasuke showed them a deck with some of his favorite anime characters painted on.

    “You aren’t in Japan anymore, Tasuke!” Sam and Allimey shouted, in their usual chorus.

    “Lay off. Go and buy your expensive shirt.” Allimey walked to the cashier, paid for the album and the shirt, Sam bought an album, too.

    After buying what they needed, the three had time to spare before the concert. There was a large piece of modern art in the center of the mall, which is just a random mass of differently-colored shapes. Allimey got frustrated from waiting. She was grasping a coin in her pocket. She removed her hand from her pocket, and threw it furiously at the heap of metal. This made a very loud, echoing noise that startled everyone in the mall, and knocked Allimey to the ground, as the noise was too much to take, with her clairaudience. Tasuke rushed to her, and extended his arm to help her up, and said,

    “Are you okay? How did you even fall?” Allimey only smiled.

    “Oh, no reason, Just slipped.” She replied. Tasuke shook his head.

    “There is no way you could have just slipped, but who cares?” they both smiled softly as their hands touched. Tasuke pulled Allimey up to her feet again. “Only an hour left, let’s start walking.” He suggested.

    On the way to the park, where Nedragelle was going to play, the three friends were chatting. Each had their own method of transportation. Allimey had a bicycle, as it was fast and easy. Sam had her scooter, as she could collapse it, to fit in her bag. Tasuke had a skateboard, as he loved the freedom, and the fact that he could do tricks.

    Allimey quickly stopped. She was incredibly uncomfortable.

    “Hey, Sam, Tasuke?” she asked for their attention.

    “Yes, Allimey?” Sam asked, suspiciously.

    “Well, I sort of don’t have our tickets.” She said, very seriously.

    “You, don’t?” Tasuke asked. Sam almost fainted.

    “I sort of…fell asleep when I got home.” Sam was furious. She shouted,

    “You fell asleep? You kept this from us all day?” Allimey started crying.

    “I’m sorry! So, so sorry!” she felt like she was about to break down until Tasuke finally let out a sigh.

    “I guess it’s okay, I forgive you, Allimey.” Allimey was crying her eyes out, still.

    “There’s no reason for you to forgive me! You should hate me!” she screamed.

    “What? Why would we hate you, Allimey?” Tasuke asked, caringly. “I could never hate such a wonderful girl. We all make little mistakes like-“ Allimey cut him off,

    “But my little mistake ruined our whole day!” The three had reached that park, hoping for the best.

    Allimey had calmed down now. Three were still wondering what they could do. Sam suggested,

    “Maybe they still have tickets, better than just leaving.” Allimey and Tasuke agreed, and they went to go ask some staff. They found a woman near the entrance, and asked if they could still buy tickets. The woman replied,

    “Sorry, we do have tickets, but only two more.” The three looked at each other questionably.

    “Yes please.” Allimey answered.

    “Why? We have three people here, you know!” Sam shouted.

    “I know, this is my mistake, I don’t deserve to go.” Allimey said, grimly. She paid for the tickets herself, and Tasuke peeked to see how much she was paying. He matched the amount, and slipped it into her bag when she was not looking.

    “I’m not going if Allimey isn’t.” He said. Sam was shocked.

    “But…if you two don’t go, I’ll be alone!” Allimey just replied,

    “Deal with it; you’ll get no sympathy from me.” Tasuke tried to say something, but Sam cut him off.

    “Whatever, I’m going, but I’m calling my boyfriend to come, now.” Sam took the tickets, and stomped off. Allimey and Tasuke looked back at each other, and chuckled.

    “She has a boyfriend?” they both asked, in another chorus.

    “Don’t worry, she’ll be apologizing tomorrow at school, she’s just having a mood swing.” Allimey and Tasuke laughed it off.

    There they were, Allimey and Tasuke, without tickets, outside of the park, where Nedragelle was about to play. Allimey had noticed that the money from the tickets had been replaced; she knew it was from Tasuke. Because of this, she knew she could trust him with her biggest secret.

    “Tasuke, I know you are going to think I am crazy, but, do you believe in, like, superhuman powers, and such?” Tasuke smirked.

     “You may call me crazy, but I believe gifted people like that do exist.”

     “No, you are not crazy, but I am.”

     “How so?” Allimey took a deep breath.

     “I have…clairaudience.” Tasuke’s eyebrows rose.

     “Clairaudience? What is that?” he asked.

    “W-well, I can hear things very well, way too well. I wear these headphones to drown out some of the noise. Well, it’s a sort of superhuman gift, but seriously, if you were to drop a quarter from fifty feet away, I’d hear a loud, echoing shriek.” She took her headphones off. “The band’s starting.” She announced. “You take in all I just told you? Tasuke nodded.

    “I can’t say I’m not jealous-“ Allimey cut him off, and started singing the soft vocals of the band’s lead singer as she heard them. After the song ended, Tasuke said,

    “Wow, I guess you are telling the truth. And, you have a great singing voice, very hypnotic.” Allimey blushed.

    “Thank you, now let’s hear you sing.”

    The two of them spent the rest of the day singing to each other, until the sun started to set. They watched it sink. They moved closer, Tasuke took Allimey’s hands. They kissed.